Blog

Microsoft Flow is a tool that can create automated processes across many applications such as Twitter, SharePoint, Outlook and Dynamics 365. It can help automate processes in ways not possible before in previous versions of CRM. All of this can be done without the use of a developer, which saves time and money. This article will focus on the steps to configure MS Flow to automate Lead creation in CRM from an external website. Previously, if you wanted a visitor filling out contact information on your website to automatically be created as a Lead in Dynamics, you would have [...]

Have you ever needed to quickly get your hands on Dynamics 365 CRM online data? Whether it be for reporting, SQL query writing with advanced joins, troubleshooting or just curiosity about tables and fields behind the scenes, sometimes you just need to see the data. If you’re like me, there is nothing like getting your hands on the straight SQL. Luckily, Scribe Insight offers a quick and easy method to copy Dynamics 365 online data to SQL Server. Dynamics 365 Online Replication Methods There are several ways to keep a replicated copy of your CRM online database in either [...]

Once the sales team is using Dynamics 365, trying to learn all the features can be overwhelming. Taking time to learn a few key features can result in significant productivity increases. Here are three time-saving Dynamics 365 features every salesperson should know. Set Follow Up Right In Outlook The response to your proposal hits your Inbox. It's a request for you to follow up in two weeks. You are about to go to a meeting and don’t have time to log in to create a follow-up task. The good news is, you don't need to. With the Dynamics 365 [...]

In Part 1 we discussed the main components of a CRM migration including Data Model customizations, UI customizations, and the Data Migration itself. The data migration can be the most difficult part of a CRM platform migration, sometimes by a long shot. This article provides a review of available options to bring your data into Dynamics 365 (D365), and some of the common challenges that can make it harder than expected. Option 1: CRM Migration with the Import Data Wizard The Import Data Wizard can import data from one or more comma-separated value (.csv), XML Spreadsheet 2003 (.xml), or [...]

A good CRM is about more than just having a sleek system for your employees. It should be a tool used to increase customer satisfaction. Efforts to show that you value your customers go a long way to retain loyalty. This is known as increasing your customer's "lifetime value", referenced in this article by Entrepreneur Magazine. One easy way to develop relationships with your customer is to send them an email on their birthday or for an anniversary. Microsoft's CRM software can easily cater to this strategy. Date fields in Dynamics 365 are a great way of storing historical [...]

In complex CRM systems, tracking down the source of record changes can be difficult. Workflows, plugins, business rules, and scripts can change field values without user intervention. I was recently troubleshooting a Dynamics 365 form which always displayed the "unsaved changes" notification as soon as it was opened. I disabled all scripts and business rules, but I was still seeing the notice. By using auditing, I was quickly able to track down which field was being changed. Enable auditing Under Settings > Administration > Auditing tab, tick the "Start Auditing" box. Here you can also enable user access to see [...]

Option sets in CRM are an easy way to ensure clean data. Limiting end user choices tends to streamline business processes and ensure uniform data entry. It is possible to extend the advantage of option sets in Dynamics 365 by implementing dependent option sets. A dependent option set shows values conditionally, based on the value chosen in the "parent" option set. Using this method, you can simplify the UI of CRM and further eliminate confusion for your end users. Here is a short list of a few key features: Features of Dependent Option Sets: The child option set value [...]

Lead utilization is perhaps one of the most misunderstood aspects of a CRM system. Many organizations choose to ignore them completely, opting instead to use only Accounts or Contact records. While these records are certainly effective themselves, you gain much more valuable data by utilizing Lead records first. Lead records in CRM allow for more robust reporting, and also make it easy to develop good customer nurturing strategies. If your organization is looking to track the ROI of specific marketing activities, perform timely follow up, in addition to keeping a relevant database you should be taking advantage of Leads. [...]

Having an up to date CRM system is part of the foundation of a growing business. It allows an organization to grow and adapt to changes in their customers and industry. Businesses with an outdated system can feel irreversibly tied to it. They may want to migrate to a new system, but are unable to answer the fundamental question of how to make the jump to a new CRM system. As a result, they remain stuck with a solution they don't want. In this article we will review the three steps common to all CRM migrations, focusing on how [...]

Need to troubleshoot the Dynamics 365 for Phones Mobile App? Use the built in “Emulator.” Recently I was on a support call with Microsoft troubleshooting an issue on the Dynamics 365 for Phones mobile app (Side Note: The ‘Associated Activities View’ is not available on the mobile app). We were doing a screen share and the support rep sent me a link over the chat so that we could see the mobile client in a native web browser. I’d seen this once before, but decided to take note this time so that I could add this to my list of [...]